Kayleigh Kanakis
Hi, I’m Kayleigh, a first-year PhD student working with the Riddell (Spinal Cord Group) and Craig labs. My research focuses on Brodmann Area 3a, an underexplored region of the brain, to investigate its potential role as a "gateway" to broader pain networks. Specifically, I’m examining its involvement in nociception and its contribution to pain chronification, with the aim of identifying Area 3a as a potential target for non-invasive neuromodulation therapies for chronic pain.
My academic interests include pain mechanisms, functional gait disorders, and neural engineering. Outside of the lab, after spending 9 years on crutches, I’ve developed a deep passion for dance—Salsa, Bachata (Dominicana and Moderna), and Irish dance—and I serve as the Welfare Officer for the University of Glasgow Salsa and Latin Dance Society.